Irezumi Style Feature

Irezumi, or Japanese traditional tattooing, has a long, vibrant history full of symbolism and tradition. In fact, the earliest evidence of tattooing in the world comes from clay figurines unearthed in Japanese tombs. These figurines date back to the Jomon Period, around 5000 BCE, with the oldest being from the Kassaka site in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, Japan. The earliest written record of Japanese tattooing comes from a 3rd century Chinese account, with more records from the 5th century supporting a long history of tattooing in Japanese culture.

Unlike many other styles of tattooing, irezumi is complex symbolically and artist creativity only exists within strict rules passed from master to apprentice. Fun fact: in researching for this feature, I was unable to find a full list of rules and most sites suggested speaking to an irezumi master when considering this style of tattoo. So with the disclaimer that a master should be consulting before deciding on any irezumi tattoo, here are some common rule threads I was able to determine:

Color: While I will discuss color rules more thoroughly in an article within this issue, there are some general rules. Just Black = the foundation of the tattoo and is very common. White = innocence and purity. Black + White = death and mourning. Red = joy and happiness. Blue = good luck and financial luck. Yellow = prosperity and optimism (unless the tattoo is from a specific region then it can be considered deceitful). Green = energy, youth, and life. Pink = femininity.

Subject: From dragons to koi fish, geisha to hannya masks, lotus blossoms to cherry blossoms, everything has meaning. A dragon tells a different story than a geisha, and Irezumi at it’s core is about telling a story. Even ensuring that all the flowers used are part of the same season is vitally important in getting irezumi correct. Lotus blossoms, for example, bloom in July and August and would never be inked next to cherry blossoms, which bloom in March and April.

Direction: If choosing the correct symbol wasn’t difficult enough, now you need to choose the direction. A koi swimming upwards represents going through a period of trial and difficulty, which a koi swimming downstream represents moving forward with life after a trial. A dragon facing up is hopeful but facing downward is a bad omen.

When discussing your tattoo with a master of irezumi, the reason and meaning matter. A blue dragon is completely different than a red one. The choice of a lotus blossom instead of a cherry blossom, even in the background, changes the meaning. It’s a different hope, a different story. And these are only the basic rules. There are so many complexities in irezumi that it takes a true master, one with years of study and dedication to their craft, to fully understand and breath this style.

It’s somehow symbolic that such a complex style has a complex history. After a rich history of tattooing, irezumi became illegal in 1872 when the west started to show more interest in Japan. With the threat of colonization, Japanese leaders wanted to present a more “civilized” front and banned tattoos, which the west considered barbaric. After the ban, irezumi survived mostly within the Yakuza (a Japanese organized crime syndicate much like the mafia). The Yakuza’s use of Irezumi only served to increase the stigma of tattoos in Japanese society.

Irezumi was legalized, technically, in 1948 after 76 years, with some mixed results. Tattoos are still banned from some pools, onsens (bath houses), gyms, and ryokans (Japanese inns). Traveling around Japan with ink requires extra research, even for a vacationing foreigner. More importantly, it was only legalized for those with a medical license to perform medical procedures in 1948. Tattoos didn’t become fully legal until 2020 after a three-year court battle. As of September 2020, tattooing in Japan without a medical license is now fully legal!

And irezumi is seeing a huge resurgence! Body suits of irezumi have become more common, outside of the Yakuza, and even westerners have started taking more time to appreciate the art of irezumi instead of just commandeering its common imagery. There has been a blooming of appreciation when it comes to traditional Japanese tattooing.

As a final note, irezumi is rich in tradition and symbolism and to get irezumi is to respect it. If you’re interested in irezumi, seek out a master! Do your own research and come to your artist with questions and an open mind. Only then will your story, hope, dream, struggle, or triumph be fully celebrated.

If you’re interested in irezumi, some great artists include: Takahiro Kitamura (San Jose, CA), Masao Miyazaki (Osaka), and Jens Schnettler (Germany).